With Darrelle Revis absent, Jets' Antonio Cromartie has chance to shine at cornerback

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerSince he came to the Jets via trade in March, Antonio Cromartie, above, has worked with secondary coach Dennis Thurman on the man-to-man coverage skills on which the Jets defense thrives.

CORTLAND, N.Y. — Mike Pettine looked at a calendar one day early last week. Still more than a month until the season opener, he counted. Still more than a month until the Jets really need their best defensive player.

Only bragging rights are at stake tonight at 8 when the Jets open their preseason — and the New Meadowlands Stadium — against the Giants.

But when Pettine sends his unit onto the field, it will also give a slice of insight into a question the team does not want to answer in the regular season: What would a Jets defense look like without Darrelle Revis?

“It would take us out of some things, but not many,” said Pettine, the Jets’ defensive coordinator. “I don’t think the impact on our thought process is as big as people think it would be.”

Revis, the Jets’ All-Pro cornerback, has held out for 15 days and counting, as contract negotiations remain locked in a stalemate. He is not expected to be on the field tonight, and there are no guarantees when or if he will be this season.

Certainly Revis is an elite mold of cornerback, the linchpin of the Jets’ No. 1 defense last season and a fundamental part of their Super Bowl aspirations this year. Because he can be counted on to shut down his half of the field, safeties may be freed to blitz or help on a more vulnerable matchup.

THREE POSITION BATTLES TO WATCH

• Left guard. As soon as the Jets released nine-time Pro Bowler Alan Faneca in April, the competition was on. Second-year pro Matt Slauson, who brings power and knowledge of the system, has taken the early lead over second-round pick Vladimir Ducasse, who has raw talent and physical gifts.

• Fullback. Rex Ryan has made no secret his affection for rookie John Conner. He has also said “there’s a chance” the fifth-round pick could unseat 16-year veteran Tony Richardson as the starter. Richardson’s experience and knowledge are hard to match, but Conner has been dishing out big-time blows, so this will be an interesting one to track.

• Wide receiver. The Jets’ top three receivers are clear: Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery. The versatile Brad Smith is a roster lock, and veteran Laveranues Coles signed just before camp. But who else will step up? Keep your eyes open for David Clowney, Aundrae Allison and Larry Taylor.

One more thing: The Jets traded up to nab RB Joe McKnight in April’s draft, but he needs to prove what role he can play on this team. Ryan wants him to run with “more authority” between the tackles, and see what he brings to the table special teams.

— Jenny Vrentas

But that element of coach Rex Ryan’s aggressive scheme would not necessarily be counted out, Pettine said, for one reason: Antonio Cromartie.

“We have a guy who, from a coverage standpoint, isn’t that far behind Darrelle,” Pettine said. “We can lock him on the back side and do some of the things we did with Darrelle.”

There has been no shortage of public posturing during the contract impasse, at least before both sides jointly agreed to a public gag order last week. But Cromartie has the chance to prove this on the field tonight — albeit only for about a quarter or so, in an exhibition game the head coach said he would not game-plan for.

Cromartie will play in Revis’ spot on the left side, where he was moved on the first day of training camp, opposite first-round pick Kyle Wilson. Since he came to the Jets via trade in March, he has worked with secondary coach Dennis Thurman on the man-to-man coverage skills on which the Jets defense thrives.

Thurman told Cromartie to use his hands more when he’s in the press position, to knock a receiver off his route. He also taught him how to use his speed, explaining that he can hang underneath and watch a route develop, then use his burst to make the play.

The coaching has helped him make use of his 6-2, 210-pound frame, 6-7 wingspan and arguably the best athleticism on the team — as opposed to playing like a 5-10, 185-pound corner last season, Thurman said. The coach believes they will see “the best Cromartie has to offer,” after he wilted in off-coverage in San Diego last season.

“(In the past), they just let me play football, but here I’m getting more teaching of technique,” Cromartie said. “I’m proud to say coach has built confidence in me, and among my teammates.”

Pettine also pointed out that when Ryan built his system as the defensive coordinator in Baltimore, the Ravens didn’t have a dominant cornerback. The unit, though, was among the top six in the league each of those four seasons.

The Jets have a chance tonight to give a glimpse of a dominant defense without Revis. Of course, they're hoping the next time they play on Monday night - exactly one month from today - they can be dominant with him.